Power-operated circular knitting machines



1952 v E. v. STIBBE ET AL 2,580,617

POWER-OPERATED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 3Sheets-Sheet l Inventors 1952 E. v. sneer-z ETAL 2,580,617

POWER-OPERATED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 sSheets-Sheet 2 NNQ U Jan. 1, 1952 E. v. STIBBE ETAL POWER-OPERATEDCIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5, 1950 Inventor?fdwr/ K 7' e ,deonard l1}. yall lf Patented Jan. 1, 1952 POWER-OPERATEDCIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Edward Victor Stibbe and Leonard WalterGibbins, Leicester, England, assignors to G. Stibbe & Co. Limited,

company Leicester, England, a British Application August 5, 1950, SerialNo. 177,852 In Great Britain August 19, 1949 power-operated cirquired.Thus, for instance, the hand-wheel or handle may be used to turn therotary component or components of the machine head slowly to a definitepoint or location, e. g. to facilitate the changing of a needle, sinkeror other knitting instrument. The hand-wheel or handle may, moreover, beused for operating the machine manually as occasion may demand.

Power-operated circular knitting machines of the smaller diameters areusually fitted for' the aforementioned purposes with but a singlehandwheel or handle, whereas a body or other machine of a comparativelylarge diameter is furnished with a plurality of such hand-wheels orhandles appropriately spaced around the machine for the convenience ofthe operator or mechanic.

In a power-operated circular knitting machine, a hand-wheel of thecharacter concerned is associated with a drive shaft to which is secureda pinion meshing with a gear in driving connection with the rotary headof the machine. This gear is adapted to be driven, viathe said shaft,'oranothershaft, either from a'continually driven line shaft through themedium of a belt, or by or from an "electric motor suitably mounted uponthe machine. I

Now heretofore, the hub or boss of such a hand-wheel or handle, or'a,bush inserted in the said hub or boss has usually been mounted directlyupon the drive shaft. If, as is sometimes the case, a hand-wheel isrigidly connected to the drive shaft, then naturally whenever the ma-vchine is operatin under power the hand-wheel will rotate and constitutea, potential source of danger.

. In some machines, however, the hand-wheel or handle is freely mounteddirectly upon the drive shaft, and is adapted to be coupled to thelatter, as occasion demands, through the; medium of a clutch of thefree-wheel type. But although, in theory, this arrangement issuch as toenable the hand-wheel or handle to remain quiescent When- 12 Claims.(Cl. 6B8) ever the machine is operating under power, in practice itoften happens, for example in the event of dryness occurring between theparts concerned, that the handwheel or handle spins round when notrequired to do so-thereby constituting a source of danger as aforesaid.

The object of the present invention is to provide, as a safety measurein a power-operated circular knitting machine, improved mounting meansfor a hand wheel or a handle whereby the latter is positively preventedfrom spinnin round while the knitting machine is running under power.

According to this invention, then, there is provided in such a machinean assembly comprising a hand-wheel or a handle of the character and forthe purposes herein defined which is mounted to turn upon a fixed sleeveserving to house and constitute a bearing for the aforementionedrotatable drive shaft, and means enabling the said shaft and thehand-wheel or handle to be coupled together whenever it is desired toturn the machine by hand.

The idea, as will be appreciated, is that the fixed sleeve whichprovides a housing or bearing for the drive shaft, constitutes, ineifect, a dead shaft upon which the hub or boss (bushed or un-bushed) ofthe hand-wheel or handle is mounted toturn. Consequently, at such timesas the hand-wheel or handle is uncoupled from the drive shaft and theknitting machine is running under power, the hand-wheel or handle willremain quiescent without any tendency to spin since the part upon whichit is directly mounted and makes contact, 1. e. the aforesaid sleeve, isfixed. This assembly is, therefore, distinguished fromall priorassemblies inwhich the: handwheel or handle is in direct contact withthe drive shaft.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readilycarried into practical efiect, a specific constructional example of ahand-wheel assembly applied to a power operated circular knittingmachine of the rotary needle cylinder type will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the complete'hand-wheelassembly shown in the dis? engaged position, i. e. withthe-hand-wheeluncoupled from the drive shaft,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the assembly in theengaged position, that is with the hand-wheel pushed in to couple it tothe drive shaft,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of thesaid assembly,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing more clearly the manner inwhich the cylinder driving gear is driven from the drive shaft of thehand-wheel assembly, and

Figure is a. general perspective view, merely in outlineof a circularpower operated body'machine showing, by way of example, locations atwhich hand-wheel assemblies constructed in ac-' cordance with theinvention may be applied.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout thedrawings.

' Referring to Figures 1 and. 2,.it will be seen:

head. The pinion 2 is keyed at 5' to the shaft;

I, and has a boss 6 through which is passed a grub screw I screwed intoa tapped hole formed radially in the said shaft. The drive shaft I,moreover, is horizontally disposed and mounted for rotation within acylindrical housing sleeve 8 which is fixed in an auxiliary housing 9previded in a head-supporting leg ['0' mounted, as shown in Figure 5,,on the stand, H of. thematchine. The internal. surface of the fixedsleeve 8 is annularly recessed. at 12 to providez-ashallow space betweenthe said bush and the drive shaft l for the accumulation and retentionof lubricating oil. The outer: end8a' of the fixed sleeve 8 is slightlyenlarged in diameter (as clearly shown in Figure 3) and projectsoutwards through a counterbored circular recess. 1.3 in the auxiliaryhousing 9.v the outer end ofthe fixed sleeve 8' provides a shoulder forabutment against the hack: of the counterboreor circular recess l3. Avertically disposed oil-hole I4- is formed through: the wall of the:fixed sleeve 8'. A hand-wheel E5 the hub it of which is fitted with abush" is mounted for rotation upon the enlarged projecting end Ba of thefixed sleeve 8. The inner end of the bush l! is reduced in diameter atMa and projects' from the hub l6 into the counterbore or circular recessl3 in the outerend of the auxiliary housing 9. This counterbore orrecess is of substantially larger diameter than that of the outerenlarged end 8c of the fixed sleeve 8. Interposed between the back ofthe said counten, bore or recess and the inner end Ha of the bush #1 inthehub IS, and accommodated in the-annular space s thus providedbetween. the fixed sleeve 8 and the wall of the counterbore or recess,is a compression. spring IS. A thrust washer i9 is secured by means ofscrews 20, to the outer end of the fixed sleeve 8. One part if of a clawor like clutch formed with a circular series of jaws, claws or teethsuch as 2m is attached to the outer end of the drive shaft, The clutchpart 2| is of larger diameter than the drive shaft l and is arrangedwith its back in contact with the front of the thrust washer l9. Tolocate it in position the said clutch part is formed with a pair ofrearwardly directed and suitably spaced locating formations 22. adaptedto receive between them a complementary key-like formation 23diametrically disposed on the outer end of the drive shaft l. The.clutch part 2| is secured by a single screw 24.

The enlargement of 4% which is passed centrally therethrough into atapped hole formed axially in the drive shaft. A peripherally flangedopposing clutch'part 25 formed with a complementary series of jaws,claws or teeth such as 25a is secured, by screws 26 passed through theflange 25b, to the outer end of the bush l'I fitted in the wheel hub 15.A dowel pin (not shown) may, if desired, be provided in the hub bush llaccurately to 1ocate the clutch part 25. The hub bush i1 is suitablycounterboredas illustrated more clearly in Figuresl and 2, to,accommodate the clutch. The outer end of the Wheel hub 16 is closed by acap 21. An oil Well or chamber formed in the hushed wheel hub I6 isfitted with a springinfiuenced oiling nipple 28 (Figure 1), theconstruction and arrangement being such that whenever the hand-wheel I5is rotated, oil from the well. orychamber will, once per revolution 01the wheel; pass downwards through the vertical oil-hole lkto lubricatethe surface of the drive shaft. l.. Tov couple the hand-wheel !5 to thedrive shaft. I all that is necessary is to press the wheel inwardsagainst the action of the compression spring I8 as a consequence ofwhich the opposing series of clutch jaws, claws or teeth will: bepushed. together and interlocked as shown in Figure 2. Conversely,wheneverthe hand-wheel I5? is released it'wilt. be pushed outwards bythe spring, [8' disengage the clutch parts and so u-ncouple. the wheelfrom thedrive shaft depicted in Figure: 1..

The invention-may;. if desired, be applied to a hand-wheel associatedwith a, shaftv driven by a motor through the: medium of change' s'peedgearingl.

The; invention is: applicable to circular newer operated knittingmachines. having rotary cam boxes; as well.v as. tomachines having a:rotary needle bed or bedsr In Figure 5 is shown, in outline, a circularbody machine having a needle cylinder 29- (Figures: 1, 2. and 4)rotatable with in. a fixed cam box 3IL Hand-wheel assemblies of theparticular form and for the purpose herein described; are appropriatelyspaced aroiind the machinefor the convenience of the operator ormechanic. Two such assemblies are visible in Figure 5..

The cylinder driving bevel gear 3' is furnished with inwardly directedlugs such as 3a: (Figures 1,, 2 and 4) having therein holes throughwhich arepassed screws 3:! whereby the said gear is secured to the.bottom of the cylinder 29;

What we claimthen is:

1.. In a powereoperated circular knitting. a;

chine, in combination, a rotary machine head, gear in driving connectionwith said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in meshwith said gear, a fixed sleeve servingto house and constitute a bearingfor said drive shaft; a manually-rotatable member mountedto turn uponthe fixed sleeve, and means for. coupling together the drive shaft andthe manually rotatable member so. as to enable the machine, whendisconnected frompower, to be turned by hand.

' 2. In a power-operated circular knitting ma chine, in combination, arotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head,.adrive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh. with said gear, afixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said driveshaft, a manually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixedsleeve, and clutch means between the drive shaft and the manuallyrotatable membenthe said'means comprising a part fixed. to and rotatable together with the drive shaft and an opposed complerrientarilyformed part secured to the manually rotatable member, andinterengagement of the two parts being effectible consequent upon axialmovement of the manually rotatable member. I

'3. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, arotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, adrive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said-gear, afixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said driveshaft, a manually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixedsleeve, clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatablemember, the said means comprising a part fixed to and rotatable togetherwith the drive shaft and an opposed complementarily formed part securedto the manually rotatable member, and spring means associated with thesaid member whereby interengagement of the opposed clutch parts iseffectible against the spring action by pushing the manually rotatablemember axially inwards whilst, normally, the said parts are held out ofengagement by the spring means.

4. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, arotary machine head, a structure supporting said head, a gear in drivingconnection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arrangedin mesh with said gear, a sleeve serving to house and constitute abearing for said drive shaft, an auxiliary housing provided in thehead-supporting structure and in which the sleeve is fixed, a manuallyrotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixed sleeve, and means forcoupling together the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member soas to enable the machine, when disconnected from power, to be turned byhand.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface ofthe fixed sleeve is annularly recessed to provide a space between thesaid sleeve and the drive shaft for the accumulation and retention oflubricating oil.

6, In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, arotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, adrive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, afixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said driveshaft, a manually rotatable member fitted with a bush mounted to turndirectly upon the fixed sleeve, and means for coupling together thedrive shaft and the manually rotatable member so as to enable themachine, when disconnected from power, to be turned by hand.

clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member,the said means comprising a part fixed to and rotatable together withthedrive shaft and an opposed complementarily formed part secured to themanually rotatable member, the construction being such thatinterengagement of the opposed clutch parts is effectible against thespring action by pushing i the manually rotatable member axially inwards7. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, arotary machine head, a structure supporting said head, a gear in drivingconnection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arrangedin mesh with said gear, a sleeve serving to house and constitute abearing for said drive shaft, an auxiliary housing provided in thehead-supporting structure and in which the sleeve is fixed, the saidauxiliary housing being counterbored to form therein a circular recessthrough which the outer end of the fixed sleeve projects and to providean annular space between the said sleeve and the wall of the recess, amanually rotatable member fitted with a bush mounted to turn upon theouter end of the fixed sleeve, a compression spring which isaccommodated within the annular space and interposed between the back ofthe circular recess and the inner end of the aforesaid bush, and

thereby enabling the machine, when disconnected from power, to be turnedby hand Whilst, normally, the said clutch parts are held out ofengagement by the spring.

8. A combination according to claim '7, wherein the inner end of thebush in the manually rotatable member projects from the latter into thecircular recess in the auxiliary housing.

9. In a power-operated circular knitting ma.- chine, in combination, arotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, adrive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, afixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said driveshaft, a thrust washer secured to the outer end of the fixed sleeve, amanually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixed sleeve, andclutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member,the said means comprising a toothed part attached to the outer end ofand rotatable together with the drive shaft, the said part being oflarger diameter than the drive shaft and arranged with its back incontact with the thrust washer, and an opposed complementarily toothedpart secured to the manually rotatable member, interengagement of thetwo parts being en'ectible consequent upon axial movement of themanually rotatable member.

10. A combination according toclaim 9, wherein the drive shaft and theclutch part attached thereto are provided with interengagedcomplementary locating formations, and a single screw is used to securethe said clutch part in position.

11. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, arotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, adrive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, afixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said driveshaft, a manually rotatable member fitted with a bush mounted to turndirectly upon the fixed sleeve, a thrust washer secured to the outer endof the fixed sleeve, and clutch means between the drive shaft and themanually rotatable memher, the said means comprising a toothed partattached to the outer end of and rotatable together with the driveshaft, the said part being of larger diameter than the drive shaft andarranged with its back in contact with'the thrust washer, and an opposedcomplementarily toothed part formed with a peripheral flange which issecured to the outer end of the aforesaid bush, interengagement of thetwo parts being efiectible consequent upon axial movement of themanually rotatable member.

12. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, arotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, adrive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, afixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said driveshaft, the said sleeve having formed through its wall an upright oilhole, a manually rotatable member which has a boss arranged to turn uponthe portion of the fixed sleeve in which the oil hole is downwar smougli the. oil, o ei l br cate th sm-mpeforth dr ve hat-b. an c u h. eas be:

' tw e he driye haf and thefm iiuall o al abl member, th fi l id meanscomprising. a part fixed ahdmflatable b eth n w th, he drive shaft.

and mom ed 9mn ea erw 3! f ed. t s ure m e; ma u llm rotat b msimb t ndezengaeem nt Q t e W9 P r b i g fi ct bl consequent upon axial liibvement of the manually rotetablgmembel:

E WA D, VIG-TOB STIBBEI BEFERENQ CITE The following references are ofrecord in; the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name, Date 2,127,179 Laws on at. 2,1.Aug. 16, 1938 Krukonis ----'---V'7-.-

